Traumatic Injury Pattern Analysis in a Light Rail Transit Death: A Retrospective Case Study
-
-
[1] Michigan State University
Michigan State University
City of East Lansing, Estados Unidos
-
[2] Maricopa County Forensic Science Center Phoenix AZ
-
- Localización: Journal of forensic sciences, ISSN-e 1556-4029, ISSN 0022-1198, Vol. 60, Nº. 3, 2015, págs. 764-769
- Idioma: inglés
- Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
-
Resumen
Within the context of medical examiner’s offices, forensic anthropologists are increasingly being asked to assist with the interpretation of traumatic skeletal injury. This case study presents an example of trauma analysis performed by forensic anthropologists at the Mari- copa County Forensic Science Center in Phoenix, Arizona. The primary goal of this study is to document an uncommon pattern of traumatic injury—severe grinding abrasions of the lower appendage that macroscopically resemble sharp force trauma, especially as observed in dismemberment cases—resulting from an individual being dragged beneath a Light Rail train for c. 1.7 miles. The abraded skeletal elements include a femoral shaft fragment, a femoral head portion, and the right foot. Second, this study aims to illustrate the efficacy of forensic anthropological analysis of patterned skeletal trauma. Finally, this study emonstrates the critical importance of analyzing scene information before drawing conclusions as to the etiology of a traumatic injury pattern.
